IMD forecasts cyclonic storm over Bay of Bengal from November 16

After Cyclones Arnab, Murasu, IMD predicts new cyclonic storm over Bay of Bengal, warns of further intensification

New Delhi, November 15

The weather system, which originated as a well-marked low-pressure area over the southeast Bay of Bengal, moved north-northwestwards and intensified into a depression at 0530 hours IST on November 15, the IMD said.

In a post on X, the weather department said the depression was centred over the southeast and adjoining southwest Bay of Bengal, near latitude 9.0°N and longitude 86.9°E.

The system was located approximately 700 km west-southwest of Sri Vijaya Puram (Port Blair) in the Andaman Islands, 860 km east-southeast of Chennai in Tamil Nadu, 1,040 km south-southeast of Visakhapatnam in Andhra Pradesh and 1,160 km south-southeast of Gopalpur in Odisha.

As per the IMD, a depression, an intense low-pressure weather system, is a cyclonic disturbance in which the maximum sustained surface wind speed ranges between 17 and 33 knots (31 and 61 kmph).

"Yesterday's Well Marked Low Pressure Area over Southeast Bay of Bengal moved north-northwestwards, intensified into a Depression and lay centered at 0530 hours IST of today, the 15th November, 2026 over Southeast & adjoining Southwest Bay of Bengal, near Latitude 9.0°N and Longitude 86.9°E, about 700km west-southwest of Sri Vijaya Puram (Port Blair) (Andaman Island), 860 km east-southeast of Chennai (Tamil Nadu), 1040 km south-southeast of Visakhapatnam (Andhra Pradesh) and 1160 km south-southeast of Gopalpur (Odisha). It is very likely to continue to move north-northwestwards, intensify further into a Cyclonic Storm over the central parts of the south & adjoining westcentral Bay of Bengal on 16th November and into a Severe Cyclonic Storm over westcentral Bay of Bengal on 17th November, 2026," said IMD.

According to the IMD, a depression is an intense low-pressure weather system classified as a cyclonic disturbance, with maximum sustained surface wind speeds ranging between 17 and 33 knots (31 and 61 kmph).

The latest weather forecast comes as parts of southern and eastern India continue to deal with the aftermath of Cyclones Murasu and Arnab.

Earlier, on November 2, the Karnataka government, led by Chief Minister D K Shivakumar, extended assistance to neighbouring Andhra Pradesh to restore power supply infrastructure damaged by Cyclone Arnab.

According to an official release, the Andhra Pradesh government had sought Karnataka's assistance in providing manpower and equipment for the restoration of electricity infrastructure in cyclone-affected areas.

Responding to the request, the Karnataka government, under the supervision of Energy Minister K J George, extended support to the neighbouring state.

Chief Minister D K Shivakumar spoke over the phone with Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister Chandrababu Naidu and assured him of Karnataka's full support during the situation.

As part of the assistance, Karnataka dispatched 500 skilled powermen, 15 Palfinger trucks equipped with cranes and earth augers, and 25 tractor-based drilling machines to undertake restoration work in the affected regions.

The linemen have been divided into teams of 10 members each, with every team led by a Junior Engineer (JE) or Assistant Engineer (AE). An Executive Engineer (EE) from each O&M circle has also been deployed for overall supervision and coordination of the assigned teams.

Drivers and operators are accompanying the Palfinger trucks equipped with cranes and earth augers, as well as the tractor-based drilling machines, to ensure their effective utilisation at work sites.

— ANI